Less than three weeks after its release, the former First Lady Michelle Obama's autobiography has become the best-selling book of the year in the US. Although the Christmas business is just beginning, according to media reports, well over a million copies of the book "Becoming - My story" have already been sold.

Thus, the memoirs overtook the revelatory book "Fire and Fury" by the journalist Michael Wolff, who deals with the presidency of Donald Trump, accusing him of intrigue, incompetence and dementia. The book had caused quite a stir at the beginning of the year.

Michelle Obama's autobiography was published in more than 20 languages ​​on November 13th. Even the German edition reached the top of the bestseller list just a few hours after the start of sales.

"An overwhelming wave of pleasure, gratitude, fulfillment"

On 421 pages, the 54-year-old describes her work from childhood in the poor south of Chicago to the White House. She focuses on very private, sometimes delicate details from her life.

About her getting acquainted with Barack Obama, for example, the former First Lady writes: "The moment I allow myself to feel anything for Barack, I am overwhelmed by feelings - an overwhelming wave of pleasure, gratitude, fulfillment and admiration."

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Michelle Obama: The Eternal Charismatic

Later in the book, Michelle Obama also talks about the problems of getting pregnant, and writes that the couple was eventually helped by artificial insemination to get the two daughters.

Finally, the last part of the book deals with her time in the White House and its associated burdens. In it, she also reports how Donald Trump repeatedly fueled speculation that Barack Obama was not born in the US and therefore not American. "That was dangerous because he purposely incited extremists and madmen," she writes.

Obama's earning millions with the deal

Many had expected that the autobiography would become a world bestseller. Accordingly, the sum, the Bertelsmann subsidiary Penguin Random House invested in their deal with the Obama: "Becoming" and a book by Barack Obama to bring the family according to various media reports up to $ 65 million.

Even for US presidents, that would be a new dimension: Obama's Democratic predecessor Bill Clinton had received $ 15 million for his autobiography "My Life" in 2004, according to the Associated Press, and Republican George W. Bush received about $ 10 million for "Decision Points ". The Obama want to donate a larger part of their income.

Michelle Obama will present her memoirs in Berlin. As part of her European tour, she will come to the capital for a short visit on 6 December to speak to the invited guests and press representatives about the book.